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Employee urges board not to remove DEI policy, urges renaming if needed
Summary
An employee and DEI committee participant told the board the DEI policy is strategic and not merely duplicative of law, warned that removing it would send a negative message about inclusion, and suggested renaming rather than eliminating the policy.
A staff member who identified themself as a district employee and DEI committee participant urged the board to preserve the DEI policy while acknowledging that the term "DEI" has become politically charged. The commenter said the policy "is not redundant or regulatory. It is strategic," adding the policy "provides a framework for proactively designing experiences and opportunities for students" and that its removal would suggest the district no longer values representation and inclusion.
The speaker traced the committee's work to specific activities: administering a 7'12 school climate survey, convening teachers, administrators, PTA representatives and students, and reporting to the board. The speaker also suggested renaming the committee to emphasize "belonging, inclusion, and student experience" if members object mainly to the acronym. "If the concern is terminology, renaming the committee to reflect belonging, inclusion, and student experience may be appropriate," the commenter said.
Board members scheduled further policy discussion at the next meeting and flagged DEI as an item for the April 22 policy session. The public speaker's full remarks were received during the public-comment portion of the meeting; no formal board action on DEI took place that night.
